Hinge lock



Jan. 9, 1968 Filed March 12, 1965 F. J. FYNEWEVER HINGE LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 1 (H I| I| Ill /3| H'' r v 1 y F/.5.

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HINGE LOCK Filed March 12. 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet :4

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v INVENTOR F g, .9. FORREST J, FY/VEWEVER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,362,041 HINGE LOCK Forrest J. Fynewever, Denver, Colo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Samsonite Corporation, Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Filed Mar. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 439,373 Claims. (Ci. 16-142) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hinge locking attachment for luggage cases, etc., which includes first and second resilient members associated with the hinges, with the free end of the first member forcibly received in an offset in the second member, to hold the hinge and luggage case in an open position, particularly a position corresponding to that provided by stops such as formed by the hinges. A special configuration of the resilient members, as well as an interfitting of them through a tongue and groove relationship, may also be utilized.

This invention relates to hinges, and more particularly to hinge locking attachments, as for holding the sections of luggage cases apart at a selected opening position. Accordingly, the invention will be referred to as a hinge locking attachment and sometimes as a hinge lock, and will be described as an improvement in a luggage case hinge. It is to be understood, however, that the use of the invention in connection with a luggage case hinge is exemplary and that the invention need not be restricted to this preferred use.

It is often desirable to hold the sections of a luggage case or the like in an open position, where one section of the case is at a selected angle with respect to the other, say, for example, 90 degrees. An ordinary and common device for this purpose is a simple linkage formed by pivoting a pair of short bars together at one end of each and connecting the other ends of the bars to the opposing sides of the sections of the case, as shown in the U.S. application of Willard G. Axtell, Melvin H. Best and Clair A. Samhammer, Ser. No. 364,973, filed Mar. 19, 1964 now US. Patent 3,198,299. Such a linkage spreads apart to its fully extended position when the case is opened to a selected angle and folds up within the case when the case is closed. Also, this linkage is usually formed as a self-locking member, which locks in its extended position when the case is opened.

Often, where luggage cases are adapted for special purposes and are designed to hold special contents in a snug manner, the side bar linkage above described is not suitable, for as the links project into the case when it is closed, they may interfere with the contents of the case. Moreover, this type of linkage is not desirable in a luggage case of the type which has comparatively shallow sections and is used primarily for business purposes, as for holding papers and the like. In such cases, it has been found that the links often jam on pencils, paper clips, or the like, and also the links will sometimes crimp and tear papers within the case. Thus, the present invention was conceived and developed to completely eliminate a side bar linkage for holding the case open.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of a hinge locking attachment for the hinges of a luggage case which is adapted to lock the hinges of the case when it is opened and its sections are held in a selected, spread-apart position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hinge lock for the hinges of a luggage case which is associated directly with the hinge and does not require connective devices and extensions to other parts of the luggage case.

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Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hinge locking attachment for the hinges of a luggage case which engages and interlocks at a selected opening of the case by positive resilient overlapping movement of the components thereof, thereby to hold the case at the selected opening with sufficient pressure as to easily resist the weight of the sections tending to drop to a closed position, yet at the same time will easily disengage and release to permit the case to be closed responsive to the application of a moderate force somewhat in excess of the weight of the case sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hinge lock for the hinges of a luggage case or" the type in which the axis of the hinges are spaced from the edge of the case, with the lock being adapted to be mounted on the offset hinges outside the body of the luggage case to free the interior of the luggage case from obstructions caused by the hinges.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hinge lock which, in modified form, is adapted to -be used with flush-type hinges and is further adapted to lie flatly and snugly against the interior walls of the case.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved hinge lock for a luggage case and the like which is a simple, compact, low cost, easily installed unit and which is reliable, rugged and durable in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more fully hereinafter appear, my invention comprises certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of elements and parts as hereinafter described, defined in the appended claims and illustrated in preferred embodiments in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a luggage case, wherein the case sections are interconnected by external, offset hinges of a type which is especially adapted to be used with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, end view of the lower portion of the luggage case illustrated in FIG. 1, with the luggage case in closed positon;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, end view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the case in an opened position, held there by the hinge lock of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a luggage case hinge, per se, of the type used on the luggage case illustrated in FIG. 1, but on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is an inner or top view of the hinge illustrated in FIG. 4, and showing further a plan view of the improved lock mounted thereon;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional View, taken along the indicated line 6-6 of FIG. 4, but on a further enlarged scale;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view, taken along the indicated line 77 of FIG. 4, but on a further enlarged scale;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the hinge in open position and with the lock engaged;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the hinge on an enlarged scale and in an open position, as in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a portion of the interior of a luggage case provided with flush-type hinges, illustrating another embodiment of the improved hinge locking attachment of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a transverse, sectional view, taken along the indicated line 1111 of FIG. 10, but with the hinges per se being omitted;

FIG. 12 is a transverse, sectional view, taken along 0 the indicated line 12 1z of FIG. 10, but with the hinges per se being omitted;

FIG. 13 is a transverse, sectional view similar to FIG. 11, but showing the luggage case open and including the hinge omitted in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a transverse, sectional view similar to FIG. 12, but showing the luggage case and hinge open and including the hinge omitted in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a portion of the interior of the luggage case, similar to FIG. 10, but showing the case in open position.

The invention comprises, in essence, a hinge locking attachment which is located at or adjacent to each of the hinges of the case. A resilient member is associated with each half of a hinge to move therewith, while the resilient members move against each other and one member will interlock with the other member whenever the case is opened, with the sections thereof being at a selected angular position. Not only do the resilient members interlock at the proper case opening, but also release through a pressure tending to close the case which is slightly greater than the weight of the sections of the case itself. Also, the members may be designed to interlock in correlation with an abutment or stop means on the hinges which permits the case to be opened to and held at a selected position, as will be described in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGS. l9, or the members may function independently of any means tending to restrict the opening of the case, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. -15.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a luggage case C of a type which is especially useful for business papers, and is referred to in the trade as an attache case. Such a case is more specifically described in the aforesaid US. patent application of Willard G. Axtell, Melvin H. Best and Clair A. Samhammer, Ser. No. 364,873. This case is characterized by similar, opposing shallow sections, each including a shell S and presenting a plane of symmetry at the juncture line 10 of the sections when the case is closed. Each case section includes a frame strip 11 or 12 attached to the edge of the corresponding shell S and a pair of offset hinges comprising hinge halves H and H at the base edges of the shells and attached thereto by rivets 13, with each hinge half engaging the underside of the respective shell. Each set of hinge halves H and H is pivoted about a hinge pin 14 and each hinge half is conveniently provided with a foot 15 on which the case rests when in upright position, as in FIG. 2. The hinge halves are further provided with stops 1 6 and 17 which are adapted to engage each other, to permit the two sections to be opened to a selected angle with each section being angularly separated from the other, as at 70 to 90, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3.

To place the hinge axis a suitable distance from the bottom edges of the shells S, the two hinge halves H and H are formed as cup-like members having flat leaf faces 20 and 21 and upturned side flanges 22 and 23, respectively, whose top edges are contoured to abut against the base edges of the case shells to space the faces 20 and 21 away from the shells. The axis of each hinge is located at the juncture of the faces 20 and 21 and the face 20 is provided with spaced apart curls 24 at this axis, while a portion of the face 21 is formed as a central curl 25 which lies between the outer curls 24. The pintle or pin 14 extends through the curls to interconnect the hinge halves. Each of the opposing stops or abutments 15 and 16, respectively, which restrict the angle of rotation of the hinge, is formed by a central, transversely disposed strip slit from its respective face to angle away from the surface of the respective leaf face 20' or 21, as an angular leg having an inside flange 26 or 27 extending toward the center of the hinge. The width of each stop 16 and 17 is the same as that of the central curl 25, and the curl 25 is formed by the end of flange 27 of stop 17, as in the manner clearly illustrated in FIG. 7. The rubber or plastic feet 15 are conveniently secured to the underside of the hinge halves by a suitable cement or by attaching screws, while leaf faces 20' and 21 are provided with holes 28 for rivets 13. The side walls of flanges 22 and 23 may each be provided with a notch 29 at the inner end thereof, to accommodate the frame strips 11 and 12.

The above hinge construction will permit the case to be opened to a selected angle, and the improved hinge locking attachment, which will now be described, is adapted to function preferably, but not necessarily, at this selected opening to prevent the case from falling back to its closed position simply by the weight of one section or the other, as when the sections become overbalanced. This locking attachment is formed as two shaped components of stiff, resilient spring steel strip material, including a base component B which is carried on hinge half H and a gripper component G which is carried on hinge half H. The base and gripper components are oriented transversely with respect to the hinge axis, and the resilient strip material forming each component is preferably as wide as or slightly narrower than the cornparative width of the center curl 25, being conveniently mounted at the transverse center directly over and/or upon the abutments or stops 16 and 17. The outward ends 39 and 31 of the components B and G are afiixed by the inner surface thereof to the corresponding leaf face 20 or 21, as by brazing, silver soldering or in any other suitable manner, such as riveting, while the free inward end of each component extends within the hinge leaf cavity to lie upon or about the center curl 25 of the hinge. The components B and G are resiliently interengageable at hinge curl 25, at the selected hinge opening, as will now be described.

The base component B, in addition to outward end 30, includes an angular leg 32 which lies upon the inner side of stop 16 and is connected to a leg portion 33, generally at right angles thereto and connected to a convex portion 34 which is adapted to lie snugly against the hinge curl 25 and terminates in a curled head 35, the inside of which engages the surface of the curl of the hinge 25, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8. The outward end 31 of gripper component G, which is afiixed to the inner side of the hinge face 21 opposite the base component, is elongated and extends to an arcuate arm 37 having, at its outer end, a socket 38 which is concave on the underside and its arcuate with a radius slightly greater than that of head 35 of base component B.

As in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the case is closed, gripper component G merely bears against base component B. However, as the case is moved to open position, the arm 37 of gripper component G will move along head 35 of base component B until, with the case open to the position of FIG. 2, socket 38 will engage head 35, as in FIGS. 8 and 9, head 35 snapping into socket 38 at the desired open position, as with the two sections of the case apart and the stops 16 and 17 in abutment. The resiliency of gripper component G provides a substantial pressure of socket 38 against head 35 when the head is engaged in the socket, with the socket being radially inwardly of the arm. Accordingly, the hinge is held against further movement, Whenever the case is opened, so that a definite pressure is then required to close the case, which involves a hinge movement, so that the socket and head will disengage. It is immediately apparent that the skilled designer can select the proper proportions of spring material from which to shape the two components to attain any selected degree of holding power by the hinge lock.

In the alternative embodiment of th einvention illustrated in FIGS. 1015, interfitting and interengaging, resilient components, such as a male component M and a female component F, are utilized, preferably attached to the frames 11 and 12 on the inside of the case, as by rivets 40 which are conveniently the same rivets which attach the hinges to the case sections. The frames 11 and 12 may be aluminum alloy extrusions, each having an outer flange 41 providing a groove which receives the inner edges of shells S, which may be molded shells of synthetic resin, such as ABS, i.e. an acrylonitrile butadieue styrene copolymer, on the outside of which is secured, by a suitable adhesive, a wear resistant vinyl layer, or a light metal sheet, such as a magnesium alloy, formed to shape and provided on the outside with'a wear resistant vinyl layer. As shown, rivets 40 extend through not only the hinges and the respective male component M or female component F, but also through the shells S, which assists in attachingthe shells to the frames. The hinges used with the alternative hinge lock may have hinge halves H and H, as in FIGS. 1-8, or hinges similar thereto, as shown, such as pivoted about pin 14 by cars 24 and 25 and having faces 20 and 21 but shallower flanges 22' and 23'. The hinge halves may also be provided with stops similar to stops 16 and 17, or any other suitable type of stop, although the hinge lock of FIGS. is adapted to be utilized with a hinge which does not have a stop, since the components of the lock are adapted to hold the case in open position. The male component M and female component F is each provided with a base 42 or 43 lying upon a frame 11 or 12 and secured thereto, as by the rivets 40, each base 42 and 43 being substantially the full width of the hinge to accommodate the rivets. These components are formed from flat sheet, preferably spring steel material, to overlie each other transversely to the hinge axis and to interlock when the case is opened to a selected angle, as will now be described.

The male component M includes a centrally positioned tongue 44 extending from its base 42 and generally coplanar therewith. The end of tongue 44 is provided on the underside with a curl 45 which, in turn, provides an arcuate surface at the outer end, for a purpose to be described, as well as reinforcing the tongue. The female component F includes a pair of spaced arms 47 which extend from its base 43 and are generally coplanar therewith, being spaced apart on each side of a slot 48 which extends into base 43 and is also wider than tongue 44, so that tongue 44 will be disposed within slot 48, as in FIG. 10, to rest on the opposite frame 12 with the case closed. The ends of arms 47 are connected by a head 49 which is provided with a socket 50 on the underside, between downwardly extending dimple 51 and an upwardly extending curl 52, the latter providing a portion of socket 50 and reinforcing head 49. As in FIGS. 11 and 12, with the case sections closed, curl 52 and dimple 51 will ride up onto rivets 40 attaching the opposite component M to frame 11.

Opening of the case, however, causes each component M and F to raise with respect to the other, with the tongue 44 rising in slot 48 and each arm 47 rising at each side of tongue 44. The components do not engage each other curl 45 at the end of tongue 44 contacts dimple 51 of head 49, at which time the respective components flex slightly until the curl 45 snaps past dimple 51 and flexes upwardly to seat in socket 50, as in the manner clearly illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. While at this selected opening, the case may be opened further to permit the components M and F to separate, but any closing action will be resisted by the components abutting against each other, with the tongue curl 45 seating in socket 50. This will resist closure until an excess closing force, beyond the weight of the case itself, causes a reverse flexing of the components and permits the tongue 44 to snap past dimple 51 and into the slot 48, whereupon the sections of the case easily close together.

I have now described my invention in considerable detail; however, it is obvious that others skilled in the art can build and devise alternate and equivalent constructions which are nevertheless within the scope and spirit of my invention. Hence, I desire that my protection be limited, not by the constructions illustrated and described, but only by the proper scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge locking attachment for a case hinge of the type having opposing hinge leaves interconnected by curls about a pintle and opposing angular stops depending from the underside thereof and adapted to contact each other to restrict the extent of the opening of said hinge, and comprising, in combination therewith, a pair of opposing, resilient components including:

a base component secured to one hinge leaf on the side opposite the stop thereof with a projection therefrom being curved corresponding to a portion of the hinge curl and terminating as an enlarged convex head which lies against the curl adjacent to the other component when the hinge is closed and is adapted to move about the curl as the hinge is being opened; and

a gripper component secured to the other hinge leaf on the side opposite the stop thereof with a projection therefrom being curved corresponding to a portion of the hinge end as an arcuate segment and spaced from the curl a distance sufficient to avoid forcible contact with the head of the first said projection but terminating as a concave socket adapted to forcibly press against said head when the hinge is opened, said socket being positioned to engage the head when the hinge is opened to a position with the stops contacting each other.

2. A hinge locking attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said base component and said gripper component extend angularly into engagement with said angular stops.

3. A hinge locking attachment for a luggage case having opposed concave shells and a frame extending around the inner edge of each shell, with at least one hinge pivotally connecting said frames and attached to the outside thereof, comprising:

a relatively fiat male component formed of spring material and having a base attached to one said frame on the inside thereof and a tongue extending from said base toward the other frame, the free end of said tongue being convex; and

a relatively flat female component formed of spring material, having a base attached to the other frame on the inside thereof and having a pair of legs spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate said tongue therein with said case closed, said legs extending toward the opposite frame, and a transverse head connecting the outer ends of said legs and having a convex outer end and a dimple adjacent said outer end, said convex end and dimple forming a socket for receiving the convex head of said male component to hold said case sections in an open position.

4. A hinge locking attachment as defined in claim 3,

including:

fastening means extending through each said frame and attaching the base of said male and female components on the inside of the corresponding frame and said hinge on the outside of said frames.

5. A hinge locking attachment for a luggage case or the like which includes a pair of opposing halves interconnected at abutting edges by a hinge having pivotally connected leaves, said attachment including, in combination with said hinge:

first and second resilient members secured to the opposite halves of the case in association with the corresponding leaf of said hinge and in opposed positions, one of said members being adapted to overlie a portion of the opposite member when the case is closed, and to slide along the opposite memher through at least a portion of the opening movement as the case is being opened;

each said member being formed as a substantially flat member having a fixed portion attached to the opposite halves of the case and a movable portion overlying the joint between the opposite halves of the case and in opposition with the other member, with the ease closed;

the movable Portion of tone member being narrowed to form a tongue and the movable portion of the opposite member being provided with a closed slot to receive said tongue when the said case is closed;

the free end of said first member being adapted to forcibly engage said second member when the case is open; and

said second member having an offset which receives the end of said first member when the case is opened, whereby to hold said hinge in open position.

References Cited UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,636,019 7/1927 Stuart 16-142 2,145,689 1/1939 Hanle 16--191 2,874,401 2/1959 Kotkins 16-145 10 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

D. L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

